Sears 247.8809 - Manual (Page 7)

MAINTENANCE
Cutting Blade
The blade may easily be removed for grinding or
replacement as follows:
1. Remove bolt and lockwasher holding blade and-
blade adapter to engine crankshaft.
2. Remove blade and blade adapter from engine
crankshaft.
3. Remove two bolts, lockwashers and nuts hold­
ing blade to blade adapter (if necessary).
When sharpening blade, follow the original angle
of grind as a guide. It is extremely important that
each cutting edge receives an equal amount of
grinding to prevent an unbalanced blade. An
unbalanced blade will cause excessive vibration
when rotating at high speeds and may cause
damage to the mower.
To insure safe operation of your unit, ALL nuts
and bolts must be checked periodically for correct
tightness.
Deck—The underside of mower deck should be
cleaned after each period of use as grass
clippings, leaves, dirt and other matter will
accumulate. This accumulation of grass clip­
pings, etc., is undesirable as it will invite rust and
corrosion and may cause an uneven discharge of
grass clippings at the next cutting.
The deck may be cleaned by tilting the mower
forward or on its side and scraping clean with a
suitable tool or by washing with a stream of water
from a garden hose.
CAUTION
Do not direct the stream of water at
a hot engine as damage to the
engine may result.
STORAGE
The following steps should be taken to prepare
lawn mower for storage.
1. Clean and lubricate mower thoroughly as
described in the preceding instructions.
2. Coat mower’s cutting blade with chassis
grease to prevent rusting.
3. Place blocks under deck to raise tires clear of
floor.
4. Store mower in a dry, clean area.
USING YOUR ROTARY
MOWER
For best results do not cut wet grass because it
tends to stick to the underside of the mower, thus
preventing proper discharge of grass clippings. If
wet grass must be cut, reduce walking speed to
help distribute the clippings more effectively.
New grass should be treated as wet grass,
otherwise a normal walking speed is about the
right pace for efficient mowing.
The best mowing pattern is one that allows the
clippings to discharge towards the uncut part of
the lawn. This permits recutting of the clippings
to further pulverize them. When cutting high
weeds, discharge towards cut portion then recut
at right angles to first direction.
Lawn should be cut in the fall as long as there is
growth.
ENGINE MAINTENANCE
Air Cleaner
A dirty or clogged air filter can reduce your
engine’s performance capabilities and could
seriously damage internal components. Check
filter regularly for dirt and remove grass clippings
and leaves as they accumulate. After each 10
hours of operation, or more often if necessary,
disassemble filter and clean.
If equipped with filter shown in figure 9 proceed
as follows:
1. Remove front cover: clean housing.
2. Clean element by washing in strong solution of
water and household detergent. Squeeze out
all liquid. Cover the ends and sides of element
with same oil used in fuel mix, knead element
between fingers to insure completed distribu­
tion of oil throughout the element, and to
squeeze out excess.
3. Reassemble in sequence shown in figure 9.
FIGURE 9.